Print

MHG9972 - Cup Marked Stone - Maiden's Rock, Dalchamie

Summary

A cup marked stone at Dalchamie.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

NC91NW 19 9313 1976.

(NC 9313 1976) Cup-marked Stone (NR). OS 6" map, (1964)

There is a large isolated erratic of schist with wide laminations of quartz, situated on the S ridge of the Beinn Dubhain at a point E of the Duible Burn. The boulder measures 8' long and 4' wide and it stands some 3' above the level of the turf. Locally it is known as the "Maidens Rock" and it is a comparatively prominent object in the moorland plateau as few stones there protrude above the heather.
The stone slopes down to the S, and on the highest point of it to the NE, 3 cups are cut out with their centres in exact alignment. The cup at the NE end measures 3 1/2" in diameter and 3" deep. The other two, the central one at about 2" diameter and the other which is elliptical, are comparatively shallow. The distances apart of their centres from the central cup are 4 1/4" and 2 1/2" respectively. J M Davidson 1940.

The boulder is as described by Davidson. The largest 'cup' although clearly artificial is somewhat deeper in proportion to its diameter than the average cup-mark. The central 'cup' in shape and size resembles a typical cup-mark; but the "elliptical" mark appears to be natural. Visited by OS (W D J) 3 June 1961 and (J B) 6 May 1976

This panel was recorded as part of the ScRAP (Scotland’s Rock Art project) by members of NoSAS in October 2019. The panel is situated in moorland and rough grazing high on a south facing slope overlooking Strath Kildonan. It is an outcrop in a field about 500m north of Dalchemie farm, about 60m southeast of the upper fence line and 150m WNW of the fence corner.

The panel is an outcrop of gneiss in the form of a ridge 2.7 x 1.3m and 0.9m high. At the east end is a large, deep cup, with a smaller cup close by it. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2020 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 9314 1977 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC91NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	KILDONAN

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)